JVH gaming, best known for its premium brand Jack’s Casino, has been listed among the Netherlands’ best managed companies by consultancy firm Deloitte.

JVH gaming, market leader in the land-based slot machine sector, is the first gaming company to earn this distinction.

“This award is a recognition of years of strong growth, as well as an enormous compliment for our organization, for which we greatly thank Deloitte. It encourages us to keep developing our company as we are heading to an extended period of expansion, driven by the great opportunities in the Dutch and European market,” JVH CEO Eric Olders said.

Following the example of the French financial regulator Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), which has begun to enforce a ban on the electronic advertising of forex and binary options services, the Dutch AFM (Financial Markets Authority) is currently preparing its own ban on the advertisement of retail financial products which are deemed risky.

The AFM has indeed proposed banning all ads for Binary Options. But as far as Forex and CFDs, the AFM only plans to ban ads for brokers/products offering more than 10x leverage. Also, brokers must offer negative balance protection in order to avoid the ad ban.

The AFM didn’t detail how exactly it would enforce the ban, since ads are often (if not usually) for brokers, not for specific products. However presumably, in order to advertise to Dutch clients, a broker would need to limit the products they offer to those Dutch clients to the ones which fit the ban.”

Compliance testing and auditing laboratory NMi has gained accreditation from the World Lottery Association (WLA) to carry out certification audits for WLA members. In addition, numerous senior employees have gained formal recognition from the WLA as Certified Auditors.

Andrew Rosewarne, NMi Gaming Director commented: “This important step for NMi demonstrates to customers our commitment to the lottery market. We expect online lottery services to be a major growth area this year and with our experience in the regulated online gaming sector and with electronic draw equipment, NMi is ready to provide the needed assurance to existing customers and those moving online.”

State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff of Security and Justice has finally responded to the Senate questions on the remote gaming bill. Although his response has not yet entered the record as an official Parliamentary document, it has nonetheless been made available.

Some notable points:

The State Secretary confirms that all land-based casinos, including land-based slot machine operators, will have to check the identities of all visitors (p. 16).

The State Secretary expects that after three years 65-70% of all remote players will make use of licensed operators. However, this player “channeling” rate is expected to keep growing and eventually, albeit later than originally expected, to reach 80% (p. 35).

Responding to concerns of political group D66, the State Secretary indicates there is no reason to expect any significant substitution effects that impact charity lotteries (p. 40).

The State Secretary acknowledges that the (proposed) differential tax treatment between land-based and online sports betting and bingo providers violates EU law. He therefore proposes a quick adaptation of relevant legislation, which would occur as soon as spring 2017 (p. 56).

Other News

Novamedia, owner of three major Dutch lottery brands, is actively lobbying for lower charitable contributions.

The Netherlands Gaming Authorityimpounded eight slot machines from an operator who no longer possessed a valid license.

Charity lotteries have now been designated Dutch “intangible cultural heritage.”

The city council of The Hague has approved the coming of a Legoland to the beach resort of Scheveningen, with the result that two local casinos now will have to move. Controversially, one of these two casinos has been designated to be relocated to a poor neighborhood.

The Dutch winner of a German lottery must pay an additional tax of €1m, the Appeals Court of Arnhem-Leeuwarden has decided.

Disciplined players can still make good money playing poker, Dutch author Sander Collewijn shows in his new bookAll-in.

The Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC), European Lotteries and two Belgian MEPs are demanding that the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) reconsider its decision to host a gambling conference this week featuring speakers from two operators on the Belgian blacklist.

On Friday, the Malta Gaming Authority published a string of notices indicating it has “no connection” with a number of online operators who are falsely claiming to own a Maltese gambling license.

A group of high-profile affiliates have united to boycott GVC’s bingo brands after claiming the operator’s decision to close its Cashcade affiliate program had led to an unfair loss of lifetime revenue.

Betsson Group has joined the European Betting and Gaming Association (EGBA).

Catena Media has announced the acquisition of Swedish-focused casino affiliate Slotsia.com and its related assets.

Romanian operator Superbet is hiring senior Tabcorp, William Hills, Bet365, and bwin staffers as part of major international online push.